State Rep. Brandon Dillon calls for new environmental protections against 'fracking'

Associated Press photoIn this May 19, 2011 photo, crews prepare to pump water and chemicals into a natural gas well in Charlton Township, Mich., to release additional gas from shale formations 1,200 feet beneath the earth's surface.

GRAND RAPIDS – State Rep. Brandon Dillon is among several Democratic legislators who have teamed up with West Michigan environmentalists, hoping to push House Republicans into supporting bills that restrict “fracking” at natural gas wells.

The bills, introduced in the House last week, would place a moratorium on "fracking" while studies are conducted on the long-term effects of “hydro-fracking” on the state's aquifers and water supply.

Hydraulic fracking is used to create a chemical “cocktail” that is injected into deep natural gas wells to break up the rock formations that retain the gas.

Although the method has been used for shallow wells in Michigan, new methods that require up to 3 million to 7 million gallons of water are now being tested for deeper wells, according to Nicholas Occhipinti of WMEAC.

The technology is new to Michigan but has been used and created environmental problems in Pennsylvania, Wyoming and Colorado, Occhipinti said.

“What's the rush here?” said Occhipinti. "We can't afford to get this one wrong - we must protect Michigan's beautiful natural resources, including our Great Lakes.

"Residents in Grand Rapids and across west Michigan regularly use Michigan's water resources not only for their livelihood but also for recreation," Occhipinti said.

The package of bills would end an exemption for natural gas exploration companies, forcing them to comply with existing state water withdrawal regulations and place a one-year moratorium on hydraulic fracking while a study of its affects is underway.

The bills also would require companies to disclose with chemicals they are using in their fracking operations. The bills also would automatically assume a fracking operation is liable if chemicals used in the fracking are found in nearby groundwater.

"Tens of billions of dollars each year are pumped into Michigan's economy by water-dependent industries like fishing, boating and tourism,” said Dillon.

"Jobs could be lost and our Pure Michigan legacy severely damaged if those waters became contaminated because of the lack of protections in place with regard to the fracking industry."

The Protect Michigan Waters from Fracking Campaign is supported by Clean Water Action, Sierra Club, WMEAC, Friends of the Jordan River Watershed, North Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC), Lone Tree Council, and the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition.